Chester aiming for showdown with O’Hara

CHUCK CREWS has a fire-and-brimstone, old-school, no-nonsense approach. When the first-year Chester High coach speaks, you tend to listen because he tells you what's on his mind. There's no such thing as "coachspeak" with him. He has no filter. If his team isn't playing well, Crews isn't afraid to say it. If his team is playing well, he isn't afraid to say that, either.

Crews came into this season with high expectations that were reserved for later in the season, when the Clippers expected to be stronger.

Don't look now, but Chester currently seems pretty strong, based on what Crews and his staff have done and the contribution from star senior receiver Anthony Davis, who's a threat to score every time he has the ball.

Chester is 3-1, its best start, Crews believes, in more than a decade. The Clippers will face their biggest challenge Saturday morning when they host undefeated Catholic League powerhouse Cardinal O'Hara at 10:30.

One month into the season, Crews wears the pleasing grin of someone a little staggered.

"I am surprised at how much the kids have bought into what we're trying to do, and how quickly," said Crews, whose team defeated Samuel Fels, 32-6, in a non-league game Friday. "We're not killing ourselves with stupid penalties as we did in the past. Plus, I have a great coaching staff. We've jelled together very quickly as a staff, and that's filtered down to the kids. It's a family atmosphere. I am surprised how quickly we've grown up."

At the hub of this resurgence is the 6-foot, 180-pound Davis, who has scored six touchdowns, including three against Fels, two rushing, one receiving. Crews believes Davis is a Division I talent. But above everything, he likes the leadership Davis provides.

"They've put a great coaching staff together and that's brought us more together," Davis said. "Coach Crews really believes in us. In the past, everyone used to say Chester wasn't a disciplined team. The new coaching staff has changed that. We've become a totally different team. We have O'Hara next, and it's going to be a dogfight."

Crews knows a lot about his team. He says he's about to find out find more on Saturday.

"I have the utmost confidence in my staff and my team. I have 50 of the baddest, toughest kids around and when we're together, we can give anybody a game," Crews said. "This O'Hara team is very, very good. This will be a real test for our program. O'Hara has speed where they need and power where they need. It's going to be a really good game. We'll see what happens."

UNSUNG PANTHERS

Strath Haven experienced what would be considered a down year last season - by Strath Haven standards - when the Panthers were 5-5. It's the first time a Kevin Clancy-coached team went .500 or below at Strath Haven since the Panthers went 3-7 in 1995. The Panthers were decimated in 2009 by injuries and stung by inexperience.

But Clancy endured last season's growing pains and is reaping the rewards. The Panthers are 3-1 entering their Central League showdown at Conestoga on Friday night at 7.

Aside from having one of the most explosive backs in the area in 5-8, 175-pound senior Thurman Fortune, the Panthers have received exceptional play from senior inside linebacker/tight end Alex Geositis, senior offensive tackles Jon McCullough and Kris Martin (who switched from center), senior right guard/outside linebacker Darrel Hunter and junior left guard P.J. Plummer.

"That group played against some of the best teams in the Central League last year and you can say that they took their lumps, but they were committed in the offseason with dominating and they're doing great jobs," Clancy said. "We play nine or 10 guys both ways and we ask a lot. But those guys have stepped forward and done well. I'll be honest, coming into this season, I thought our line play would be a strength."

Conestoga is 3-1 overall, 2-1 in the Central League, while the Panthers are 3-0 in the league. Clancy knows he's going to need another strong game from his guys up front.

"Conestoga without question is the best team we've seen yet," Clancy said. "They have catch-and-throw ability and they can score on every snap of the ball. If you're going to be good, you have to rise to the challenges. We're certainly going to find out this week."

A BIG TEST

Academy Park has gotten off to another good start, just like 2008 and 2009. But coach Jason Vosheski and his team might find out even more about themselves Friday night, when they visit undefeated Archbishop Carroll, at Radnor High at 7:30. Carroll has outscored its first three opponents, 102-12.

Vosheski would like to know just how good his team is; Carroll will provide answers. The Knights' 3-1 mark was built against teams with a combined record of 1-11 entering this weekend. The Knights do have an explosive running game, led by junior tailback Demetre Carter, who rushed for 225 yards in Academy Park's 27-13 win over Kennett on Saturday.

DELCO 7

The top seven Delaware County football teams which play in the Delco leagues:

1. Ridley (Record: 4-0. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 1.)

2. Garnet Valley (Record: 4-0. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 2.)

3. Strath Haven (Record: 3-1. Weeks rated: 2. Last week: 7.)

4. Interboro (Record: 2-2. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 3.)

5. Penn Wood (Record: 3-1. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 5.)

6. Springfield (Record: 2-2. Weeks rated: 4. Last week: 4.)

7. Chester (Record: 3-1. Weeks rated: 1. Last week: unrated.)